Hand-case.



No. 685,574.. Patented out. 29, lem.

H A N D C AS E.

{Application led Apr. 24, 1901.)

(No Modal.)

WM, fo-epi?. I n BY A EYS STATES PATENT Tric.

HAN D-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 685,574, dated October 29, 1901.

Application filed April 24, 1901. Serial No. 57,265. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ANTHONY GoN- BOIE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ot' Virginia City, in the county of Storey and State of Nevada, have invented a new and Improved Hand-Case, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a device for facilitating laying out, or, in other words, properly disposing the hands of dead people. When a dead body is to be prepared for burial, it is customary to straighten out the arms and hands, so that they will have as natural a position as possible under the circumstances; and my invention has for its object to provide a means for effecting this result and also for enabling a bleaching fluid to be applied to the hands, so as to whiten them. While the principal use of the invention is that explained above, the invention is also applicable to the treatment of diseases in the hands of living persons.

This specification is a specific description of one form of the invention, while the claim is a definition of the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing the manner of using it, the lid of the case being shown removed and upturned; and Fig. 3 is a view of a waterproof covering adapted to be applied to the case to prevent leakage of the bleach- .ing fluid and also useful separately.

The case is formed after the general contour of the human hand, and right and left cases must therefore be provided. I have here shown a left-hand case. lower or main section a and an upper section Z2, the sections fitting together, with their side iianges snugly engaged. Fastening devices c are provided for removably securing the sections together, these fastening devices It comprises a tions of the case are then fastened together.

The hand when thus incased will assume its natural position and retain the same upon becoming stiff. If desired, the hand thus incased may be subjected to the action of a bleaching fluid or other chemical, whereby to whiten the hand and improve its appearance in other respects. This may be done by soaking the cotton-Wadding in the liquid, and then to prevent leakage of the same from the case a waterproof mitt d (shown in Fig. 3) may be placed over the case and buttoned snugly around it, the mitt having an opening d therein, with buttons for closing it.

In using the invention for the treatment of the hands of living persons essentially the same operations are performed, as will be fully understood. If desired, the mitt d, as shown in Fig. 3, may be used independently of the case; but I consider the use of the case preferable when. preparing dead bodies, since it insures holding the hand in its proper form.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent-- A hand-case, comprising two rigid sections adapted to incase the hand and having means for removably fastening them together, and a waterproof mitt adapted to inclose the sections of the case, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH ANTHONY OONBOIE. 

